Provided photos

HOLLEY – Many Holley teachers, staff and administrators travelled to neighborhoods in the district today, a caravan of cars to show students they are missed.

The district like others in Orleans County is in its second week of being closed to students due to the health concerns with the coronavirus.

Many students came out of their front porches and yards to wave to the teachers and staff, who put Holley Hawk school colors of red on their vehicles, as well as other messages such as “We Miss You.”

The parade of vehicles started at noon and passed through the Village of Holley, Thomas Estates, Akeley Manor and County Line Mobile Park.

The district also has been celebrating a virtual sprit week, encouraging students to post photos of themselves dressed up in the theme of the day. Those days this week include the following:

• Monday: Superhero Day – Post a photo of yourself dressed like a superhero in honor of all hospital workers, first responders, grocery employees and anyone else considered an essential worker during this time.

• Tuesday: Crazy Hair Day – Post a photo with your craziest hairstyle.

• Wednesday: Pajama Day – Post a photo of yourself in your favorite pajamas.

• Thursday: Jersey Day – Post a photo of yourself in your favorite team jersey in honor of all the athletes whose seasons are on hold right now.

• Friday: School Spirit Day – Post a photo of yourself in your favorite Holley gear of wearing the school color of red.

(Post photos to Twitter: @HolleyCSD and @Holley_MS_HS)

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Children’s Librarian Grace Azzolino reads Bear Sees Colors by Karma Wilson.

HOLLEY – The Community Free Library may be closed to the public during the coronavirus pandemic, but the Wednesday children’s book storytime is continuing.

Grace Azzolino, the children’s librarian, read three books today, sang children’s songs and even taught sing language during a 20-minute video posted on YouTube. Click here to see the video – “Story Hour: March 18th, 2020 (Spring!)”

The Holley library, like most in the area, isn’t allowing patrons inside the building. Azzolino, in her message on YouTube, said she is said the library is closed to the public right now. She encouraged everyone to practice social distancing so the virus doesn’t spread.

She read two books – Bear Sees Colors by Karma Wilson and There is a Bird on Your Head by Mo Willems. She also sang a song about bunnies with a flannel board, and showed children how to do a welcome song with shakers, which can be made using rice, beans or other small items sealed in a jar or cup.

Azzolino ended with a jingle in sign language. She sang, “Goodbye friends, it’s time to say goodbye,” and taught the signs for each word.

She said she will record another storytime next Wednesday.

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From Holley Mayor Brian Sorochty

HOLLEY – In cooperation with the Governor’s directive and what we feel is in the best interest of our community and our staff, we are closing our village offices to the public.

Our critical staff will still be reporting to work providing necessary services. Any payments can be made by using the drop box located on the front of the Village Office Building or through online. (See the village’s website for directions: www.villageofholley.org).

We regret having to do this, but do feel this precautionary measure is necessary. If there are any questions or concerns, call the Village Office at 585-638-6367.

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(Editor’s Note: An earlier post stated town meetings will be closed to public. That was in error, Town Supervisor Joe Sidonio said. The regularly scheduled meeting at 7 p.m. today will be open to the public.)

From Murray Town Supervisor Joe Sidonio

In light of rapidly escalating reports from the governor and department of health, the Murray Town Hall and the Highway Department offices will be closed to the public. Our staff will be reporting to work but will restrict their exposure in order to provide essential government services.

Please deposit any necessary documents in the drop box during normal business hours located by the front door. Include your name address and phone number so we can contact you if necessary.

We regret this decision. In the best interest of our community it has become necessary to help prevent the spread of the virus. This is a routine precautionary measure and not a cause for panic.

Joe Sidonio

Murray Town Supervisor

585-638-6570 ext. 110

HOLLEY – Village officials say a $4.5 million waterline and sidewalk project is expected to start in late April or early May and will take about a year.

The Village Board on Feb.11 accepted a $2,556,000 construction bid from a contractor on Tuesday to replace sidewalks and water lines in the village. Most of the project is along Route 237 and the northeast section of the village.

Mark Cerrone, Inc. of Niagara Falls submitted the lowest bid for the project. Grants will cover the majority of the costs. Holley is responsible for 20 percent of the sidewalk work and 40 percent of the waterlines.

The village will put in sidewalks and waterlines on East Albion Street, Park Place and East Union Street as part of its share for the project.

Since the bid was approved, the village has worked with the state Department of Transportation to secure its final approval.

The village was approved for a $1,780,000 federal TAP grant (Transportation Alternatives Program) to construct curbs and sidewalks that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The grant will allow the village to replace about one-third of the sidewalks in the village.

Cerrone’s share of the project includes sidewalks along Rt. 237 – both north and south of Rt. 31 to the village limits (from the water tower to the elementary school), as well as both sides of Geddes Street from Van Buren to Route 31, both sides of Perry Street, both sides of Morgan Street and the west side of East Avenue.

Holley also was awarded nearly $1.3 million from the state for upgrades to the water system through the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act, as well as the Intermunicipal Water Infrastructure Grants Program.

The waterline project includes 5,800 linear feet, just over a mile, and involves replacing 4- to 8-inch water mains with 8- to 12-inch water mains.

That project includes portions of South Main (from the water tower to Batavia Street), South Main from Jackson Street to West Albion Street, water service transfers only along North Main from West Albion Street to the high school, the northerly side of Geddes Street from Van Buren Street to Public Square, along with connections to existing waterlines at ends and side streets.

The village on Tuesday also approved a $318,100 contract with the Wendel firm for construction administration and observation services during the project.

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Photo by Tom Rivers: Dan Seeler, owner of the Holley Falls Bar & Grill, asks the Holley Village Board for more parking enforcement in the downtown business district and also to extend the 2-hour parking limit from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Pictured from left include Holley Mayor Brian Sorochty, Deputy Mayor Kevin Lynch and Trustee Jim DeFilipps.

HOLLEY – The Holley Village Board was asked to extend a two-hour parking limit in the downtown business district from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Dan Seeler, owner of the Holley Falls Bar & Grill, said there are four businesses – Sam’s Diner, Lisa’s Dance Boutique, Dustin’s Pizzeria and Holley Falls Bar & Grill – that are open to at least 9 p.m.

He presented the board with a letter signed by 10 business owners in the downtown, asking for more parking enforcement and the extended hours for the parking limit. It is currently in effect from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Those business owners also asked the Village Board to send a letter to all the building owners in the downtown business district asking that employees, tenants and owners park outside the Public Square between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Seeler also asked that 10-minute loading zone be allowed in front of Dustin’s Pizzeria and the Holley Falls Bar & Grill.

If the parking limit was extended to 9 p.m. that would require a public hearing and a change in the local law, village attorney John Sansone said.

The best way for immediate relief could be ticketing people or giving them warnings if they exceed the 2-hour limit, Holley Police Chief Roland Nenni said.

The Police Department can step up its enforcement of the 2-hour limit. Often that help ensure some people are not taking parking spaces beyond two hours.

Seller said he believes the board to should change the law so the 2-hour limit extends through 9 p.m. He said there many vehicles parked in the Square well past 6 p.m. He urged the board to extend the parking enforcement to 9 p.m. and encourage the building owners to have tenants and employees park outside the Square between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.

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HOLLEY – The federal Environmental Protection Agency will soon be mobilizing  crews in Holley for phase 2 of the cleanup at the former Diaz Chemical site on Jackson Street.

The EPA has already spent $12.5 million on the cleanup, using money from the Superfund. The EPA has removed buildings, pipes, drums and tanks. Only two warehouses remain from Diaz, which declared bankruptcy and abandoned the site in 2002. The company operated for about 30 years in Holley.

The next phase – thermal treatment of contaminated soil and groundwater at the site – will cost $20 million, the EPA said.

Because there are no viable responsible parties, Superfund covers the costs of the investigation and cleanup of the site, the agency said.

The EPA has been working on cleaning up the site for nearly 20 years.

“EPA has been unable to recover any funds from Diaz as a result of its filing for bankruptcy,” said Mary Gladkowski, spokeswoman for the EPA. “However, EPA has the funding for the entire phase two thermal treatment remedy in place. This phase of the cleanup will be operational by the winter of 2021 and is projected to take four to five years to complete with site restoration to follow.”

With phase 2, the EPA will tackle the contaminated soil on the 5-acre site. The soil poses a threat to the groundwater, EPA officials said.

The dirt can’t simply be carted off the premises until it has been treated to remove the contaminants. The EPA and a contractor will drill 600 wells, spaced about 13 to 15 feet apart, and install an underground system where the soil will be heated up. That will remove below-ground contaminates from soil.

Water vapors also will be collected and treated, and then filtered and discharged into the sewer.

Once the contaminant level drops in the soil, about 100 truckloads are expected to be hauled away to a landfill.

The EPA will have 100 truckloads of clean soil brought to the site. Project managers went over the work with the Holley Village Board last month.

John DiMartino, EPA remedial project manager, and Travis Young, a project manager with the Army Corps of Engineers, said some work could start this month, with contractors drilling test wells and crews starting to mobilize.

This summer soil will be excavated, with drilling and well installation. The first stage of the thermal treatment system will go in next winter through summer 2021. A second stage of drilling and well installation is planned for the spring-summer 2021 with the second stage of the thermal treatment system to be installed from winter 2021 to summer 2022.

A concrete cover is part of the project during the treatment stage. The concrete will be removed once the treatment is done.

The project will be substantially complete in the winter of 2023, according to the EPA timeline. A final layer of topsoil and grass will be added to complete the project.

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Tenants committed for about half of the 41 senior apartments

HOLLEY – The move-in date for the 41 senior apartments at the former Holley High School has been pushed back about a month to mid-March while contractors put the finishing touches on the ambitious project.

Home Leasing in Rochester started construction in November 2018 on a $17 million transformation of the former school, turning it into 41 apartments and the village offices for Holley.

The apartments will include one studio, 35 one-bedrooms, and five two-bedroom apartments. Home Leasing has tenants committed for about half of the apartments so far.

The company will offer tours of the school for community members from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Feb. 20. To go on the tour, no RSVPs are needed, but people should sign in that day at the American Legion at 5 Wright St. There will be tours every half hour with the last one at 6 p.m.

Home Leasing is still accepting applications for the apartments. For more information, click here.

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